Friends of Kootenay Blog
Access stories and photos about the natural and human history of Kootenay National Park and Columbia Valley Includes highlights about the Friends of Kootenay National Park activities and programs.
Blogs
What's Up - Crocus
Posted: April 17, 2014
Prairie Crocus is locally common in grasslands and dry meadows of the Columbia Valley
by Larry Halverson April, 13, 2014
Crocuses are usually the first of the spring flowers as they often push their way up through snow. Read more »
Great Canadian Parks - Kootenay National Park
Posted: March 21, 2014 
Great Canadian Parks video avaiable for viewing until March 29, 2014 at TVO
"In 1985, Kootenay, Yoho, Banff, and Jasper national parks together with Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine, and Hamber provincial parks were designated UNESCO’s Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, one of the largest protected areas in the world. Read more »
Avalanche Control - Kootenay National Park
Posted: March 13, 2014
Canadian Rockies Highway Avalanche Control - Kootenay National Park - March 10, 2014 Parks Canada
Travel by air through Kootenay National Park (Highway 93S) with our Visitor Safety Specialists as they perform helicopter explosive control. Read more »
Vibrissae
Posted: February 26, 2014
Red Squirrel with long vibrissae by Larry Halverson
They are called vibrissae or more commonly known as whiskers. But the whiskers on this Red Squirrel are different from what men grow on their chin. Read more »
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Posted: February 13, 2014
Determined Wild Turkey by Larry Halverson
“Everyone’s favorite midwinter bird count is happening this February 14–17, and for the second year in a row it’s open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Read more »
Kootenay in the News
Posted: February 11, 2014
A fossilized arthropod found by scientists in the newly discovered Burgess Shale site in Kootenay National Park.
Photo by Michael Streng
“New fossil bed found by scientists hailed as 'motherlode'
In over 100 years of research, approximately 200 animal species have been identified at the original Burgess Shale discovery in Yoho National Park in over 600 field days. In just 15 days of field collecting, 50 animal species have already been unearthed at the new Kootenay National Park site.” Read more »
John Dean Photo Exhibition
Posted: February 4, 2014
Kootenay 2003 Fires by John Dean
John Dean's new work featured at The Edge Gallery in Canmore is a series of recent photographs from the site of the 2003 forest fire in Kootenay National Park. The Photographs were made with a high resolution digital camera and are printed on beautiful cold rolled art paper. Read more »
Northern Pygmy Owl
Posted: February 3, 2014
Northern Pygmy Owl perched on a Douglas Fir snag - February 3, 2014 - Larry Halverson
As its name suggests, the Northern Pygmy Owl is Canada’s smallest owl, about the size of a pop can and weighs only 70 grams. But despite their small size, they are quite fierce, and will attack prey several times their own size. There are even cases where pygmy owls have killed domestic chickens. Read more »
Take a hike with Street View through U.S. National Parks and Parks Canada
Posted: November 20, 2013 
Moraine Lake by Google
What do tents and hiking boots have in common? You don’t need either to start exploring or planning your next adventure to some of the best national parks and historical sites across North America. Read more »
